The inauguration of a new European Commission led by President Ursula von der Leyen will be postponed by at least a month, until December 1. The current commission under Jean-Claude Juncker will remain in office a while longer, because France, Hungary, and Romania still need to propose new candidates. The European Parliament found the previously proposed candidates from those three EU countries unsatisfactory.
Such a month-long ‘technical delay’ could also provide some leeway in negotiations regarding the UK's departure from the EU. British Prime Minister Johnson does not want to request a new extension, and many EU countries do not want to offer one either.
Because the three new candidates still have to undergo various procedures, it is impossible to complete this before November 1. The European Parliament was scheduled to vote next week on the approval of the new 27-member EU executive. The planned vote has now been removed from next week’s agenda.
The parliament now wants the new commission to start on December 1 and is therefore urging that three candidate commissioners be appointed soon. However, for the time being, French President Emmanuel Macron refuses to put forward a new candidate; he was previously deeply offended that his first candidate was rejected.
Macron now demands prior approval from Commission President Von der Leyen for his next candidate. He also insists on guarantees that neither the European Commission nor the European Parliament will alter the portfolio of the proposed new French commissioner. Macron insists that the combined portfolios of Industry and Defence remain under French control.
Ursula von der Leyen will also participate in the EU summit in Brussels, but it is not expected that she will make binding statements regarding the actions of the European Parliament. However, the other EU leaders will urge Macron to propose a new EC candidate.